Bel Marin Keys land to be added to Marin County parks

An 8-acre plot north of Bel Marin Keys Boulevard in Novato will be added to the county as park land under a deal struck between Marin officials and the state's Coastal Conservancy.

The conservancy helped acquire the land as part of the massive restoration of more than 2,500 acres of wetlands at Hamilton Field and Bel Marin Keys. That effort is being led by the conservancy and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The smaller Bel Marin Keys site is bordered by Novato Creek, dredge material drying ponds owned by the Bel Marin Keys Community Services District and by the gates to the Bel Marin Keys community. Because it is separated from the rest of the restoration it was determined to be unnecessary for the restoration project.

"We looked to see if we could do anything with that parcel, maybe for an interpretive area, but it really didn't work," said Tom Gandesbery, project manager for the conservancy on the wetlands project. "We thought maybe we could auction it off, but there wasn't much value there." The Marin County Parks and Open Space District has agreed to take on the land, with the conservancy board approving the transfer earlier this month. The transfer will become official later in the year after deeds and other documents are prepared and when the Board of Supervisors accepts the parcel.

Parks officials plan to work with the community to finalize a management plan for the land. In the meantime, the county wants to clean up problematic and illegal activities including dumping, vandalism and motorcycle riding.

Madeline Thomas, district manager of the Bel Marin Keys Community Services District, hopes the site is cleaned.

"There is junk all over the place," Thomas said, adding she would rather not see a formal trail on the land because it might compromise the privacy of nearby residents.

There is a casual trail that runs through the property that will remain open to the public for what the county terms "passive recreation."

The site once contained a dwelling believed to be part of the larger farm and ranch; however, all that remains of the home is a foundation and driveway. Surrounding the former home site are mature oak and several large eucalyptus trees. The site has vistas of baylands, the Marin Hills, salt marshes and open space.

There are also several small ponds that provide habitat for variety of birds and amphibians.

"Our first priority would be to clean it up and initiate patrols to monitor use," said Linda Dahl, head of Marin County Parks.